PCL1 Oklahoma City Comets

Dodgers Edge Express, 2-1

Published on April 19, 2018 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release


Round Rock, Texas - The Oklahoma City Dodgers were held to season lows at the plate with two runs and four hits, but it was enough for the pitching staff to get by the Round Rock Express at Dell Diamond Tuesday night in a 2-1 victory.

One day after giving up a season-high nine runs as the team's nine-game winning streak came to an end, the OKC pitching staff held Round Rock to just one run and six hits, giving the Dodgers a 10th win in their last 11 games.

Making his team debut, starting pitcher Justin DeFratus delivered 5.2 strong innings. He allowed one run and six hits, with no walks and one strikeout while inducing eight groundouts. DeFratus (1-0) held the Express 0-for-6 with runners on base and 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.

The bullpen followed DeFratus with 3.1 hitless innings, retiring 10 of 11 batters, including the final eight. Between DeFratus and the bullpen, they retired 12 of the last 13 Round Rock batters to step to the plate.

DeFratus' only misstep was in the fourth inning when Willie Calhoun led off with a solo home run past the grass seating in right field to give the Express a 1-0 lead.

The Dodgers (11-2) were hitless until Travis Taijeron hit a single to shallow center field with one out in the fifth inning. Taijeron then advanced to second base on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Breyvic Valera to tie the game, 1-1.

Tim Locastro led off the sixth with a triple and scored two batters later on a sacrifice fly by Alex Verdugo. It's the sixth straight game with a RBI for Verdugo, who has 10 RBI during the stretch.

The Express (4-11) only had one runner reach base after the Dodgers took the lead and never put the tying run in scoring position. Pat Venditte retired six of seven batters over the seventh and eighth innings, and Brian Schlitter retired the side in order in the ninth inning to earn his second save of the season.

Round Rock starting pitcher Austin Bibens-Dirkx tied up the Dodgers for most of his six innings but ended up with the loss. Bibens-Dirkx (0-2) allowed two runs and three hits, with one walk and five strikeouts.

The Dodgers look to win the series in Round Rock when they finish their four-game set at Dell Diamond at 7:05 p.m. Friday. Live coverage begins 15 minutes before first pitch on AM 1340 "The Game," 1340thegame.com, or through the free iHeartRadio mobile app.

WP: Bibens-Dirkx.

IBB: Valera, B (by Garrett).

HBP: Segedin (by Bibens-Dirkx).

Pitches-strikes: DeFratus 82-58; Garcia, Y 1-1; Venditte 24-16; Schlitter 13-9; Bibens-Dirkx 95-61; Garrett 21-9; Mann 12-7; Delabar 11-8.

Groundouts-flyouts: DeFratus 8-2; Garcia, Y 0-0; Venditte 0-3; Schlitter 1-1; Bibens-Dirkx 5-7; Garrett 2-0; Mann 1-0; Delabar 3-0.

Batters faced: DeFratus 20; Garcia, Y 1; Venditte 7; Schlitter 3; Bibens-Dirkx 22; Garrett 5; Mann 3; Delabar 3.

Umpires: HP: Javerro January. 1B: Derek Eaton. 3B: Clayton Hamm.

Weather: 74 degrees, partly cloudy.

Wind: 12 mph, In from LF.

First pitch: 7:06 PM.

T: 2:37.

Att: 10,022.

Venue: Dell Diamond.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from April 19, 2018


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